feudalization
|feu-da-li-za-tion|
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/ˌfjuːdəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/ˌfjuːd(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/
(feudalize)
becoming feudal / forming feudal relations
Etymology
'feudalization' originates from English, specifically from the verb 'feudalize' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ation'; 'feudal' itself traces to Medieval Latin 'feodalis' and 'feodum' meaning 'fief' or 'fee'.
'feudalization' developed from Middle English and Modern English formations: Medieval Latin 'feodum' > Old French 'fief'/'feu' > Middle English 'feudal' > Modern English 'feudal' > verb 'feudalize' > noun 'feudalization'.
Initially related directly to 'feud' or 'fief' (land held in return for service), the term evolved to denote the broader social, political, and economic process of forming feudal relations; in modern usage it can also be applied metaphorically to describe fragmentation or localism.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the process or result of becoming feudal; the historical development or establishment of a feudal system (e.g., the spread of landholding by vassalage and obligations).
The feudalization of land tenure transformed rural society after the collapse of central authority.
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Noun 2
a metaphorical process in which authority, resources, or rights become fragmented and controlled by local lords or private holders rather than a central authority (used in political or economic analysis).
Scholars warn that prolonged decentralization can lead to the feudalization of public services.
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Last updated: 2025/10/28 22:05